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A Treasure on Georgia's Coast
Nestled on the Georgia coast,
midway between Savannah and Jacksonville,
lie the mainland city Brunswick and four barrier islands: St. Simons
Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island. Spanish
explorers came to the area more than 400 years ago, seeking gold.
Instead they found astonishing beauty, mild weather and a natural
radiance that inspires the name, The Golden Isles.
Located along the Intracoastal Waterway, the landscape is defined by vast expanses of marshland, punctuated
by small islands, between the Atlantic Ocean and the mainland.
The marshes and the rivers that flow through them on their way to the
sea teem with all sorts of fish, birds and animals.
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Mainland Brunswick
was named for Braunsweig, Germany, the ancestral home of King George II
who granted Georgia's original land charter. The city's streets and
squares are laid out in a formal grid, similar to Savannah and other
colonial cities, and continue to bear their colonial names.
Old Town, a
National Register District, is filled with majestic homes noted for
their turn-of-the-century elegance and eclectic mix of styles. The
burgeoning downtown is filled with interesting antique shops and a
growing number of specialty shops and art galleries. At Mary Ross Park
on the waterfront, you'll see fleets of shrimp boats that work the local
waters and contribute to the area's rich seafood industry.
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St. Simons Island, the largest of the Golden Isles, is just across the
Marshes of Glynn, immortalized by Georgia poet Sidney Lanier. Moss-draped oaks line
the island's streets, creating an image worthy of Faulkner. The Village
offers a charming selection of shops and restaurants that range from
fine dining establishments to casual outdoor eateries. A wide range of lodging accommodations is available on the island, for every price range.
Young visitors
will especially enjoy Neptune Park, with its mini-golf course,
playground and the fishing pier. They may even see a shark or some other
sea creature, landed by one of the local anglers. St. Simons Island
offers plenty of interesting historical sites and attractions, from the
St. Simons Lighthouse (a working lighthouse in operation since 1872) to
Bloody Marsh, where British and Scottish soldiers successfully defeated
a larger Spanish force and ended Spanish incursions outside Florida.
Fort Frederica National Monument and historic Christ Church are on the
island's north end. There are great beaches (check out East Beach by the
old Coast Guard Station) and a nature center that offers fun day
programs for kids.
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Little St. Simons Island
is a private island
accessible by boat St. Simons
Island's north end, offering accommodations for up to 30 guests - a
wonderful destination for family reunions and small group gatherings.
Sea Island,
home to The
Cloister, a world-class resort renowned for its luxury and gracious
service, now offers new Ocean Houses, with beautiful oceanfront accommodations
and flexibility for accommodating groups of most any size. Top-notch
amenities include a full-service spa, golf, tennis, Shooting School,
horseback riding, kids programs, a private beach, fishing, waterway
excursions and more. Special theme weekends throughout the year are
devoted to ballroom dancing, bridge and fine wines.
Jekyll Island
was once an exclusive winter retreat
for some of America's wealthiest families. Their exclusive Jekyll
Island Club, a collection of "cottages" and a
variety of support structures are now a National Historic Landmark, the
Historic District is open to the public.
Today, owned by the State of Georgia, the island retains much of its natural beauty and offers a
wealth of amenities and activities including 63 holes of golf, tennis,
beaches, 20 miles of bike paths, mini-golf, nature tours and Summer
Waves waterpark.
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Golfers
will find plenty to captivate their interest on Jekyll and the mainland, with 234 holes of
golf on 16 different courses. Or, try your luck aboard the Emerald
Princess casino/cruise ship, which offers afternoon and evening cruises
from downtown Brunswick.
Brunswick & The Golden Isles
offer a great
selection of accommodations, ranging from convenient Interstate hotels
to island resorts, waterfront hotels, and small inns. Several companies
offer rental cottages and there are three campgrounds: two on the
mainland and one on Jekyll Island. Getting to Brunswick & The Golden
Isles is a snap.
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Savannah-Tybee Island ||
Richmond Hill ||
Midway-Liberty County ||
Darien-Sapelo Island ||
Brunswick & The Golden Isles
St. Marys ||
Cumberland Island ||
Kingsland ||
Waycross ||
Okefenokee Swamp
|| Coastal Neighbors || Group Tours
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